New Guinea Impatiens plant `Kimpgua`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea impatiens plant named `Kimpgua`, a.k.a `Improved Guadeloupe` characterized by its flat and rounded purple and pink bi-colored flowers; upright and outwardly spreading growth habit; freely branching plant habit; and dark green, slightly glossy, non-variegated foliage.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of NewGuinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri, which isto be internationally registered as `Kimpgua`. It is anticipated thatthe plant will be marketed under the synonym `Improved Guadeloupe`.Hereinafter the disclosed plant will be referred to as `ImprovedGuadeloupe`.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe inventor in Gensingen, Germany. The objective of the breedingprogram was to develop new varieties that have a uniform plant habit,attractive flower colors, good flower form and numerous flowers perplant.

The new cultivar originated from a cross made by the inventor of thecommercial cultivar Guadeloupe (U.S. Plant patent applied for) as themale, or pollen parent, with the proprietary seedling selectionidentified as N213 as the female, or seed patent. The cltivar ImprovedGuadeloupe was discovered and selected by the inventor as a floweringplant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environmentin Gensingen, Germany. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar byterminal cuttings taken at Gensingen, Germany, has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Impatiens are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Improved Guadeloupe`. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish `Improved Guadeloupe` as anew and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat and rounded purple and pink bi-colored flowers.

2. Upright and outwardly spreading growth habit.

3. Freely branching plant habit.

4. Dark green, slightly glossy, non-variegated foliage.

The new New Guinea Impatiens is similar in flower color to the maleparent, the New Guinea Impatiens cultivar `Guadeloupe`. However inside-by-side comparisions in Encinitas, Calif., under commercialpractice, plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens differed from plants ofthe cultivar `Guadeloupe` in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens more outwardly spreading thanplants of the cultivar `Guadeloupe`.

2. Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are more freely branching thanplants of the cultivar `Guadeloupe`.

3. Stems of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are green whereasstems of plants of the cultivar `Guadeloupe` are dark purple.

4. Leaves of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are larger thanleaves of plants of the cultivar `Guadeloupe`.

5. Abaxial surface of leaves of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiensare dark green whereas upper surfaces of leaves of plants of thecultivar `Guadeloupe` are dark reddish green.

6. Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are more freely flowering thanplants of the cultivar `Guadeloupe`.

7. Flowers of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are rounded andflat whereas flowers of plants of the cultivar `Guadeloupe` arestar-shaped and slightly cupped.

8. Although both bi-colored cultivars, actual flower colors and patternsare different for each variety.

9. Peduncles of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are longer thanpeduncles of plants of the cultivar `Guadeloupe`.

The new New Guinea Impatiens is also similar in flower color to the NewGuinea Impatiens cultivar `Octavia` (disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.8,430). However in side-by-side comparisons in Encinitas, Calif., undercommercial practice, plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens differedfrom plants of the cultivar `Moorea` in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are more freely branching thanplants of the cultivar `Octavia`.

2. Stems of plants of the new New guinea Impatiens are green whereasstems of plants of the cultivar `Octavia` are dark purple.

3. Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are more freely flowering thanplants of the cultivar `Octavia`.

4. Flowers of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are rounded andflat whereas flowers of plants of the cultivar `Octavia` are star-shapedand slightly cupped.

5. Although both bi-colored cultivars, actual flower colors and patternsare different for each variety.

6. Peduncles of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are longer thanpeduncles of plants of the cultivar `Octavia`.

A detailed comparision of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens and thecultivars Guadeloupe and Octavia appears in Chart A at the end of thespecification.

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The first photograph comprises a top perspecive view of a typical plantof `Improved Guadeloupe`.

The second photograph comprises a close-up view of typical flowers andleaves of the varieties Guadeloupe (top of photo) and `ImprovedGuadeloupe` (bottom of photo).

The flower and foliage colors in the photographs may differ from theactual colors due to light reflectance.

The cultivar `Improved Guadeloupe` has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype. The following observations,measurements and comparisons describe plants grown 10-cm pots inEncinitas, Calif., under commercial practice in a fiberglass-coveredgreenhouse with day temperatures ranging from 23 to 29C and nighttemperatures ranging from 16 to 18C and light levels averaging 3,000footcandles.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Classification:

Botanical.--Impatiens hawkeri.

Commercial.--New Guinea Impatiens `Kimpgua`, marketed under `ImprovedGuadeloupe`.

Parentage:

Male parent.--Impatiens hawkeri `Guadeloupe` (U.S. Plant patent appliedfor).

Female parent.--Proprietary seedling selection N213.

Propagation:

Type cutting.--Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.--About 15 days with 21C soil temperature.

Plant description:

Plant form.--Upright and outwardly spreading, rounded and mounding.

Growth habit.--Moderately vigorous. Moderate to freely branching, denseand bushy growth. Suitable for 10 to 25-cm containers.

Plant size.--Height: About 21 cm. Width or spread: About 29 cm.

Lateral branches.--Quantity: About seven. Size: Length: About 13 cm.Diameter: About 1.1 cm. Internode length: About 5 cm. Color: 146B withflight red, 59A, stripes.

Foliage description.--Leaves simple, generally symmetrical, abundant,opposite or in whorls of three, horizontal to plant and flat in aspect.Size, largest leaves: Length: 11.5 to 12.5 cm. Width: About 5 cm. Shape:Ovate with acuminate apex, attenuate base and ciliate margin. Texture:Smooth, slightly glossy. Color: Young foliage, upper surface: 146A.Young foliage, lower surface: 185A. Fully expanded foliage, uppersurface: 147A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 184B. Venation,upper surface: 53B. Venation, lower surface: 53A. Petiole: Size: Length:3 to 3.5 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm. Color: 53C/53D.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.--Large purple and pink bi-colored flowers. Freelyand continuously flowering. Flowers arise from leaf axils. Usually tenflowers per lateral branch. Flowers positioned at or above the foliageand face upward or outward. Flowers flat and rounded. Flowerspersistent.

Flowering season.--Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In thegarden, flowering is continuous from spring until fall.

Flower size.--Length: About 6 cm. Width: About 6 cm. Depth: About 5 mm.

Flower buds.--Size: Length: About 2.4 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm. Shape:Ovoid. Color: 67A.

Petals.--Quantity: Five. Size (largest petals): Length: Top petal: About2.8 cm. Middle petals: About 3 cm. Bottom petals: About 3.2 cm. Width:Top petal: About 5 cm. Middle petals: About 3.5 cm. Bottom petals: About4 cm. Shape: Cordate with emarginate apex, cuneate or obtuse base andentire margin. Texture: Satiny, smooth. Color: When opening, uppersurface: Iridescent, 80B with 66A centers and stripe. When opening,lower surface: Iridescent, 80D with 52A at center. Fully opened, uppersurface: Iridescent, 80C with 66A centers and stripe. Fully opened,lower surface: Iridescent, 68A with 52A at center. Fading to:Iridescent, 81D.

Spur.--Length: About 5 cm. Shape: Narrow and curved. Color: Proximal:52B. Center: 144C. Distal: 144A.

Peduncles.--Length: About 5.7 cm. Angle: Erect and outward. Strength:Strong. Color: 144B with some red, 53B, stripes.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Stamen number: Five, anthers fused,filaments free. Anther shape: Obovate. Anther size: 6 by 3 mm. Anthercolor: Cream. Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: Creamy white.Gynoecium: Five-loculate fused. Stigma color: White. Gynoecium length:About 5 mm. Gynoecium color: 187A.

Disease resistance: Under commercial conditions, resistance norsusceptibility to pathogens has not been observed.

Seed development: Seed production is not usually observed.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        CHAR-      `IMPROVED                                                          ACTERISTIC GUADELOUPE` `GUADELOUPE`                                                                              `OCTAVIA`                                  ______________________________________                                        GROWTH HABIT                                                                             Upright and Upright     Upright and                                           outwardly               outwardly                                             spreading               spreading                                  BRANCHING  Moderate, 7 Low, 4 to 5 Low, 4 to 5                                HABIT      lateral branches                                                                          lateral branches                                                                          lateral                                               per plant   per plant   branches                                                                      per plant                                  STEM COLOR 146B with slight                                                                          187A        187B                                                  stripes, 59A                                                       LEAF LENGTH                                                                              11.5 to 12.5 cm                                                                           9.5 to 10 cm                                                                              10 to 11 cm                                LEAF WIDTH About 5 cm  About 4.3 cm                                                                              4.5 to 5 cm                                LEAF COLOR,                                                                              146A        147A        147A                                       YOUNG,                                                                        UPPER SURFACE                                                                 LEAF COLOR,                                                                              185A        184A with green                                                                           187A                                       YOUNG,                                                                        LOWER SURFACE                                                                 LEAF COLOR,                                                                              147A        187A with green                                                                           147A                                       FULLY                                                                         EXPANDED,                                                                     UPPER SURFACE                                                                 LEAF COLOR,                                                                              184B        183B        183A                                       FULLY                                                                         EXPANDED,                                                                     LOWER SURFACE                                                                 VENATION   53B         60B         187C                                       COLOR,                                                                        UPPER SURFACE                                                                 VENATION   53A         60B         187B                                       COLOR,                                                                        LOWER SURFACE                                                                 PETIOLE LENGTH                                                                           3 to 3.5 cm About 2.8 cm                                                                              3 to 4 cm                                  PETIOLE    About 3.5 mm                                                                              About 3 mm  About 3 cm                                 DIAMETER                                                                      PETIOLE COLOR                                                                            53C/53D     60B         187D                                       QUANTITY OF                                                                              About 10    About 8     About 8                                    FLOWERS PER                                                                   LATERAL STEM                                                                  FLOWER SHAPE                                                                             Rounded     Star-shaped Star-shaped                                FLOWER ASPECT                                                                            Flat        Slightly cupped                                                                           Slightly                                                                      cupped                                     PETAL COLOR,                                                                             80B with 66A                                                                              84B with 67A                                                                              81C with                                   WHEN OPENING,                                                                            centers     centers     57A                                        UPPER SURFACE                      centers                                    PETAL COLOR,                                                                             80D with 52A                                                                              80C with 47A                                                                              57A centers,                               WHEN OPENING,                                                                            centers     centers     77C at edges                               LOWER SURFACE                                                                 PETAL COLOR,                                                                             80C with 66A                                                                              84B with darker                                                                           75A with                                   OPENED,    centers     than 66A centers                                                                          57A centers                                UPPER SURFACE                                                                 PETAL COLOR,                                                                             68A with 52A                                                                              67C with 50A                                                                              52A centers,                               OPENED,    centers     centers     67B at edges                               LOWER SURFACE                                                                 PETAL COLOR,                                                                             81D         82C         82C                                        FADING TO                                                                     PEDUNCLE   About 5.7 cm                                                                              About 4 cm  About 5 cm                                 LENGTH                                                                        FLOWER     67A         46B         57A                                        BUD COLOR                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiensplant, as illustrated and described.